Water → 1,1-Dicyanocyclopentane

Participants

Reaction Steps

Sodium hydride (37.8 g; 0.94 moles) was suspended in dimethylformamide (250 mL) under an atmosphere of N2. A solution of malononitrile (30 g; 0.45 moles) and 1,4-dibromobutane 99.7 g; 0.45 moles) in dimethylformamide (150 mL) was added dropwise at such a rate so as not to exceed 30° C. The mixture was stirred for overnight, poured into H2O (500 mL), and then washed with two portions of ethyl ether. The organics were combined, washed with brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. The drying agent was removed by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo, leaving a bilayered liquid. The lower portion was separated (28.8 g) and identified as the desired product.

Provenance & Evidence